New Ulm weekly review., 1887-03-30
THE BLACK PRINCE.
John Alexander, the Leading Negro Gambler Of
the United States.


From the Detroit Tribune.
A colored man stood in the front
door at Whitney's opera house, gazing
absently at q three-sheet poster on
the stand in front of the theater. He
formed altogether remarkable pict-
ure, and one that was duplicated up.
on the bill board. A closely clipped
beard covered his face. Amagnifcent
sealskin overcoat, reaching nearly to
the heels, was carelessly thrown open
in front. The diamonds that blazed
from his shirt bosom and fingers were
as large as the eyes OF the street gam
ms who stood gaping at the man in
the doorway. The man, too, had eyes
piercing and restless. He wore a silk
hat and carried a gold headed cane.
Two men passed by the theater.
''Say, look at that overcoat!" said
one. Ministries here this week?'
''Yes," replied the other.
''That fellow is the star OF the COM
pany, mebbe.''
mo, he's the manager. The COM
pany is not a colored one.''
please give me this with discretion.
Colored man run a minstrel show?
Amt that little strong?"
Maybe, but it is a fact His name
is Alexander-John Alexander-one
OF the best known and cleverest men
in his line IN America. Some call him
Alexander the Great, others the
Black Prince. Call him what you
will. he is a bright man just the same"
Theatrical mann"
Gambler mainly, theatrical some
what"
Mr.. Alexander was found behind the
scenes at Whitney's in the evening.
He was smoking fragrant Favored
cigar right in the face of the yellow
card on the wall that prohibited the
use OF tobacco on the stage.
''How did I become gambler"
laughed Mr.. Alexander. "Whv, nv
boy, | was born one. Now you might
like to know just where I was born.
Well, l came to life fifteen miles be-
low Cincinnati, on President William
Henry Harrison's plantation. fused
to match pennies with the Harrison
youngsters, and there first discovered
my fortune in risks. Later on I be.
came cabin boy on New Orleans
packet>steamer. Everybody CANDLES
on Mississippi river boats. l was no
exception. My good fortune contin-
ued. and when we reached Cincinnati
on one of our trips I found I had $50
clear. I left the river and started a.
small gambling room for the benefit of
people OF my own race. l was getting
along finely until one day man came
in and broke the bank, which meant
5000 to me. Then l bushwhacked
about the country for a time in a.
rather impecunious condition. When
l could earn a dollar I played the
bank. Sometimes Ihad hundreds and
occasionally thousands, and lost it all
the next day.
zone night cleaned up 81, 700 in a
Cincinnati bank. I went to Columbus
and determined to open an establish
ment for myself, A crowd followed
me up from Cincinnati to break me.
got 81 900 from Cincinnati friend,
now Detroit sporting man, to help
me out. We had it hot and heavy,
but came out $4,000 winner. after
waros started a second bank in Co.
lumbus, and both are running now"
"How do you play?"
$500 to call a card. Detroit banks
pay $25 limits, but it is mere tomfool-
cry to play such a game. I have al
ways made it a principle to break or
break-that is, to clean out the bank
or myself. That's the only true way
to gamble. My advice to any one
who engages in it is to stop forever
the minute he makes a decent pile"
"Have ever broken banks? Only
one or two-hundred. I have played
the highest game ever performed in
this country call card faro for ST. 900
crack. Remember this was not
combination arrangement. simply
played my money alone. My largest
cleanings have been in Saratoga, Long
Branch and Chicago. In Saratoga a
few years ago broke bank for $780,
900. That was the largest bank I
ever broke, though 1 have made more
money than that at one sitting"
"What do you think Of the career OF
a gambler?''
Nine OuC OI Ten ule poor men. L
have known Of a few who stopped play
ing when they had something, but the
rule is the reverse. The fascination
is something indescribable. There is
no use in man gambling in light
games. The principle is to make or
lose. Have I superstitions? None.
l have made enough money without
them. The only thing that induced
me to enter the theatrical business
was that I might divert my attention
from the gambling table. / ann using
the minstrels only as an experiment.
If like the business shall enter in
to legitimate management and spec
ulation. I am coming here next sum-
mer to christen the new trotting as
sociation. bet on races; bet on any
thing and everything that invites a